Spartanburg, S.C. – The USC Upstate men's cross country team was recognized by the Big South Conference this afternoon as the 2018 Men's Cross Country Sportsmanship Award winner.

USC Upstate was recognized along with UNC Asheville who received the Women's Cross Country Sportsmanship Award.

"I'm proud of how our guys carry themselves on the course and off," said head coach Carson Blackwelder.

The Spartans recorded four top-5 finishes this season led by a second place performance at the season-opening Eye Opener Invitational in Spartanburg. USC Upstate followed with back-to-back third place finishes at the Lenoir-Rhyne Invitational and Upstate Invitational. The Spartans closed out the season with a fifth place showing at the Big South Cross Country Championships.

Dorian Jones and Andrew Castano were both named Big South Men's Cross Country Runners of the Week throughout the season. Jones earned the season's first honor on Sept. 19 and Castano followed on Oct. 3. Jones posted back-to-back top-10 performances to start the year highlighted by a fourth place finish at the Lenoir-Rhyne Invitational. Castano had a season-best finish of 15th place at the Upstate Invitational.

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